Electrolyte level control device



ELECTROLYTE LEVEL CONTROL DEVICE FOR STORAGE BATTERIES 0r1g1na1F11ed Dec27, 1941 jTlUtZTITOr J. sandus fy J. SANDUSKY Jan. 21, 1947.

Reissued Jan. 21, 1947 ELECTROLYTE LEVEL CONTROL DEVICE FOR STORAGEBATTERIES I Julius Sandusky, Toronto Township, Peel County, Ontario,Canada Original No. 2,306,569, dated December 29, 1942,

Serial No. 424.661, December 27, 1941. Application for reissue December21; 1944, Serial No.

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electrolyte level control devices for storagebatteries, and particularly to the type of device in which the fillingup of the filling opening indicates when the battery is filled to theproper level.

In such devices it is necessary to provide an opening sufficiently largeto accommodate the tubes used for inserting the electrolyte when thebattery is assembled. It is also necessary to provide an opening forinsertion of the 'hydrometer for testing the electrolyte. Furthermore itis desirable to so construct the device that the electrolyte will stayup in the filling opening long enough to give a definite indication thatthe battery is filled to the required level.

The object of this invention is to devise an improved device which willsatisfy the above requirements and which may be manufactured by massproduction methods at a cost of very little more than batteries notprovided with such a device.

This object is attained by means of the construction hereinafterdescribed and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawingin which Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a battery, with the capremoved, showing the filling opening made in accordance with myinvention;

Figure 2 a fragmentary vertical section through the filling opening onthe line 22 in Figure '1 showing the cap above the opening;

Figure 3 is a. fragmentary vertical section on the line 3-3 in Figure 1,with the cap in posltion;

Figure 4 a perspective view of the plug in the filling opening with thecup removed; and

Figure 5 a perspective view of the cup.

In the drawing like numerals of reference indicate corresponding partsin the different figures.

The construction of the battery is well known and therefore only suchparts thereof as are relative to the present invention are indicated. Afilling opening I is formed in the top of the battery casing 2. Anoutwardly extending boss 3 surrounds the filling opening, said bossbeing threaded to receive a cap 8 which may be of any suitableconstruction, and which is shown in Figure 2 above the filling openingand in Figure 3 mounted on the filling opening and screwed into the boss3.

The interior of the boss 3 is threaded, not only to receive the cap 8,but to receive a plug 4, which may be screwed down to a point adjacentthe inner or lower end of the filling opening and forms a shoulder orbalile therein. The plug 4 is provided with two holes therein, one ofsaid holes having a depending open ended vent tube 5 which extendstherefrom into the interior of the cell, and the upper end of whichextends slightly above the upper surface of the plug 4 and forms a rim5.

Mounted in the other hole in the plug 4, which is preferably circularandslightly larger than the diameter of the hole from which the tube 5depends, is a cylindrical filling well or cup 6, closed at the bottomand open at the top with an outwardly extending rim 6 adapted to rest onthe plug 4. Extending from the upper edge of the cup 6 to a pointadjacent the bottom thereof is a slot 1, preferably about wide. Suitablemeans for preventing the cup from turning and retaining the 'slot in adesired position is provided, such means being indicated in the draw--ing as a teat or lug 4 over which the upper end of the slot 1 extends.It is found that if the slot 1 is located too close to the tube 5 liquidwill fiow more rapidly through the slot than if it is located anappreciable distance away from the tube 5 as shown in the drawing. Theinterior of the boss 3 and the cup 6 form a filling passage.

The tube 5 is of suflicient internal diameter to permit the insertion ofthe tube of a hydrometer for testing the specific gravity of theelectrolyte, and for insertion of a venting tube when the batery isbeing filled with electrolyte in the course of assembly thereof. Thehole in plug 4 in which the cup 6 is inserted is sufiiciently large toallow the insertion of the filling tube of the filling apparatus used inmanufacturing the battery. For this purpose the cup 6 is removable andis not inserted until the initial filling of the battery. After thebattery has been filled initially to the proper level, the cup isinserted.

The operation of the device is as follows: The operator is instructed topour water with which the battery is being filled into the cup 6. Thewater tends 'to form a seal over the slot 1. However, the water willflow through the slot 1 into the interior of the cell until theelectrolyte in the cell rises to the bottom of the tube 5, thus closingthe tube and forming a slight air pressure in the closed space withinthe top of the cell. This pressure resists the fiow of water through theslot I and causes a seal to form over the slot and prevents further fiowtherethrough, causing the water to rise in the filling passage which isan indication to the operator that the battery is filled to the properlevel. When the operator discontinues pouring water into the cup 6 thewater will gradually flow out through the slot 1 sufliciently to permitair to escape through said slot, whereupon the water in the fillingpassage will fiow down into the cell.

The rim 5 on the tube 5 prevents the water that has risen over thebattle from flowing down to tube 5 creating a lake of water over thejoint between the upper edge of the cup 6 and the plug 4 and also overthe upper end of the slot 1, sealing the joint and the upper end of theslot. If pouring is continued after the cup'is full, the water will riseover the rim 5 and rundown through the tube 5 until the tube 5 isfilled, when.

the water will rise in the filling passage to the top thereof and willoverflow if further water is fiasss" '1' i; "1

interior of the cell from the other opening in the bafiie, said cuphaving an aperture in the wall thereof of such width that a seal formsthereover when liquid is poured into the cup and the electrolyte in thecell rises to the bottom of the openended tube. v i

3. In an electrolyte level control device for storage batteries, a cellhaving a filling passage therein; a baffle in the passage below the topthereof; two openings in the baflle communicating with the interior ofthe cell; an open-ended poured in, but the level in the battery will notstruction of the cup with the closed bottom has the advantage that aseal will form over the slot sufiiciently to practically prevent waterfrom flowing therethrough, and Many rate to prevent air from escapingfrom the top of the interior of the cell when the level ,of theelectrolyte in the cell reaches the bottom of the vent tube 5, even'yifa comparatively wide slot is formed. It is advantageous in themanufacture of the device to have a wide slot, since it is difficult tomould a slot in hard rubber or similar material, if the slot is muchnarrower than /32. Moreover, by this construction, although a seal isquickly formed when the electrolyte reaches'the bottom of the vent tube5, assoon as the operator discontinues pouring, the seal will breakcomparatively rapidly,

thus permitting a quick drop of the liquid in the filling passageway. 1

Although the invention has been described in some detail, it will beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its scope except asdefined in the annexed claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an electrolyte level control device for storage batteries, a cellhaving a filling passage therein; a baiile in the passage below the topthereof; two openings in the baflle communicating with the interior ofthe cell; an open-ended tu-be extending from one ofthe openings into thecell to the point to which it is desired that the battery should befilled; and a cup extending into the in.- terior of the cell from theother opening in the baflle, said cup having an aperture in the wallthereof of such width that a seal forms thereover when liquid is pouredinto the cup and the electrolyte in the cell rises to the bottom of theopenended'tube. I

2. In an electrolyte level control device fors'torage batteries, a cellhaving a filling passage therein; a baffle in the passage below the topthereof;

two openings in the ba-file communicating with the interior of the cell;an open-ended tube extending from one of the openings into the cell tothe point to which it is desired that the battery should be filled and aremovable cup extending into the tube extending from one of the openingsinto the cell to the point to which it is desired that the batteryshould be filled; a removable cup extending into the interior of thecell from the other opening in the bafile, said cup having an aperturein the wall thereof of such width that a seal forms thereover whenliquid is poured into the cup and the electrolyte in the cell rises tothe bottom of the open-ended tube; and means for preventing turning .ofthe cup in the opening. j

4. In an electrolyte level control device for storage batteries, a cellhaving a filling passage therein; a bafile in the passage below the topthereof; two openings in the baflie communicating with the interior ofthe cell; an open-ended tube extending. from one of the openings intothe cell to the point to which it is desired that the battery should befilled; and a cup extending into the interior of the cell from the otheropening in the bafiie, said cup having a slot approximately a2 Wide inthe side thereof extending from the top thereof to adjacent the bottomthereof.

5. In an electrolyte level control device for storage batteriesa cellhaving a filling passage therein; a bafile screwed into the passagebelow the top thereof; two openings in the bafile conimunicating withthe interior of the cell; an openended tube extending from one of theopenings into the cell to the point to which it is desired that thebattery should be filled; and a cup extending into the interior of thecell from the other opening in the bailie,- said cup having an apertureinthe wall thereof of such width that asea'l forms thereover when liquidis poured into the cup and the electrolyte in the cell rises to thebottom of the open-ended tube.

6. In an electrolyte level control device for storage batteries, a cellhaving a filling passage therein; a baflle in the passage below the topthereof; two openings in the baffle communicating with the interior ofthe cell; an open-ended tube extending from one of the-openings into thecell to the point to which it is desired that the battery should befilled; a rim around the open;- ing from which said tube extends; and acup extending into the interior of the cell from the other opening inthe baflle, said cup having an aperture in the wall thereof of suchwidth that a seal forms thereover when liquid is poured into the cup andthe electrolyte in the cell rises to the bottom of the open-ended tube.

JULIUS SANDUSKY.

